Yes, I’m a basic you-know-what who loves scarves, candles, pumpkins, bonfires, crunchy leaves, and the sound of the high school band practicing nearby, so of course I’m excited to usher in the “ber” months! But you know I am also super excited about this LONG list of great things happening in the literary community this month! I’ve got a full calendar of events, information about the library system’s bookmobile, and wins from some local authors. Cozy up and let’s dig in!
events
Thursday, Sept. 5th, 4:30 PM at Ingram Building MT Center: MTSU In Process semester kickoff with Fred Arroyo: The MTSU Creative Writing department hosts a weekly feature and open mic with creative writers of all kinds, and this week, it’s fiction writer Dr. Fred Arroyo! The event is free and open to the public—and there’s even snacks! Come hear about Dr. Arroyo and his work, listen to some other (mostly student) writers, and maybe share something of your own! Find out more info here.
Thursday, Sept. 5th, 8 PM at O’Buttonz World (1630 S. Church St, Murfreesboro): Poetic Pulse
O’Buttonz and Po’Boys & Poets of Nashville present Poetic Pulse at O’Buttonz World, a night full of hip and energetic poets like The Real Mark, Emerald Eyeview, Spoke, BluetheGod, BLong, Caye Anne, Storiteller, and more! Plus, there’s an open mic, so you can be one of those hip and energetic poets! Order tickets for $10 at www.pbnpnash.com or pay $15 at the door. Click the post above for more info.
Saturday, Sept. 7th (and 14th, 21st, and 28th), 3 PM at Barnes & Noble: Saturday Storytime: Bring your littles to Barnes & Noble at The Avenue and help foster a love of reading and storytelling! Click here for more info.
Sunday, Sept. 8th, 1:30 PM at the Technology Engagement Center (306 Minerva Dr, Murfreesboro): Adult Maker Club:
Love book and painting too? Then go to the TEC to paint a brick like a book! No need to bring supplies, but do make sure to register ahead of time at this link.
Thursday, Sept. 12th, 4:30 PM at Ingram Building MT Center: In Process with Irakli Gabriel: Come back to MTSU’s Creative Writing series and listen to Irakli Gabriel discuss songwriting. Again, it’s free and open to the public. More info here!
Thursday, Sept. 12th, 7 PM at Walnut House: The Bloom Stage:
The Bloom Stage is a quarterly event that features music, live art, storytelling, poetry, and more, and if you’re a creative mind, you don’t want to miss it! For the September show, the theme is “Diptychs, Doubletakes, and Dopplegangers: The Power of Two in Our Stories.” Some of the artists include Carter Elliott, Robb Goldwire, Gregory Lannom, Carol Berning, Hil Hoover, Kara Kemp, Jacob Traux, Laura Schlesinger, Aaron Shapiro, Kory Wells, and more! Though the event is free, there is a $10 suggested donation. Click the image above for more info!
Friday, Sept. 13th: Reading in the Schools Day:
Read to Succeed is planning to be out and about at various schools in the area, reading books and passing out stickers and bookmarks. If you’d like to volunteer to help out, click here for more information.
Tuesday, Sept. 17th, 10 AM at Smyrna Public Library: Book Bingo:
Rutherford County Schools are off this day, so SPL is welcoming kids and their caregivers to come play bingo and win free books! Click the image for more information.
Wednesday, Sept. 25th, 4:30 PM at MTSU College of Education, Room 160: Let Freedom Read:
Join members of the MTSU College of Education and MT Engage to learn about banned books and some of the changing jurisdiction in Tennessee regarding minors and their reading materials in schools. Everyone who comes leaves with free books!
Thursday, Sept. 26th, 4:30 PM at Ingram Building MT Center: In Process with Nancy Reisman: Come hear from author Nancy Reisman, as part of the MTSU Creative Writing In Process series! Free and open to the public, with more info here.
Friday, Sept. 27th, 6:30 PM at Dapper Owl: Poetry in the Boro Kickoff for the MTSU Write Fall Conference:
This month’s meetup with Poetry in the Boro is a double whammy! We’re kicking off the MTSU Write Fall Conference and hosting our feature poet, Darnell Arnoult! And don’t forget: there’s an open mic afterward, so you can listen to some local (and because of the conference, not-so-local) poets and maybe even share some of your own! Click the image for more info, and we’ll see you there!
Friday and Saturday, Sept. 27-28th: MTSU Write Fall Conference:
Yes, the annual conference is here! This year’s theme is “Light and Shadow,” and the keynote speaker is Darnell Arnoult! Other featured writers include Nick Bush, Bre Stephens, LD Valencia, Amie Whittemore, and more! The cost is $50-125, depending on what you’re wanting to participate in. Find out more information by clicking the image above.
Bookmobile Visits Near you?
Whew! That’s a lot of stuff happening this month! And if you notice, most of it is happening in Murfreesboro—though Rutherford County includes more than just the Murf! Thankfully, the libraries are coming in clutch again with the bookmobile! Just look at this thing of beauty!
The RCLSTN bookmobile makes stops around the county, usually hitting up spots that don’t get as much attention. Here are some of the places it will be going this month:
Sept. 6th, 5-8 PM: Eagleville First Friday
Sept. 14th, 1-3PM: Blackman Community Visit at Berkshire Subdivision
Sept. 17th, 10 AM-2 PM: Community Resource Fair at Our Place Peer Support Center
Sept. 23rd, 2-4 PM: Milton Community Visit
Sept. 27th, 2-4 PM: Walter Hill Community Visit
If you’re near one of these areas and want to check out some books, get a library card, or even just use its free wifi, click the bus to get more information!
Local Writers’ News
Embrace the fear: Interview with Bryanna Licciardi by Grace Haley
In addition to the weekly series of featured writers, In Process also has a blog and podcast where usually students will interview other writers. MTSU student Grace Haley recently interviewed poet, MTSU professor, and Poetry in the Boro volunteer Bryanna Licciardi about her new poetry collection FISH LOVE, which was recently released and is available from Alternating Current Press or your favorite bookstore. Click the image above to read the interview.
Gaylord Brewer’s new book, Before the Storm Takes It Away
Gaylord Brewer is a Rutherford County resident, MTSU professor for more than three decades, and an author of sixteen previous books of poetry, fiction, criticism, and cookery. (I personally had him for the graduate poetry seminar back in 2013, I believe it was!) He has recently released a new book of brief nonfiction, Before the Storm Takes It Away, which you can pick up from Red Hen Press (by clicking the photo above) or your favorite bookseller.
Mytecia Myles featured in Writer’s Digest:
Mytecia Myles is a local writer and coach, and she was a featured literary agent in Writer’s Digest for Embolden Media. She’s been a featured storyteller for the Bloom Stage, and she’s also on the MTSU Write conference line-up. Click her photo to see the article. Way to go, Mytecia!
Dietrich Stogner on The Spine Bookcast:
The Spine bookshop in Smyrna does a lot to highlight local authors—including interviews on the podcast. Recently, Dietrich Stogner, author of Frostbitten, was featured as part of a discussion about his book, science fiction, and the future of writing. Listen to it on Spotify here!
Donna R. Madden Book Launch at The Spine:
See? The Spine is on it! Right at the end of August, The Spine hosted author Donna R. Madden to celebrate the launch of her romance novel, No One But You. You can buy a copy for yourself here!
Felicia Jackson book signing at Linebaugh Library, Sept. 21 10 AM-2
Local author Felicia Jackson will be selling and signing copies of her new book, Overcoming the Challenges of Being a Teacher. You can check out the book here, but wait to buy it directly from Felicia at her signing!
And that’ll do it! As always, don’t forget to check out the calendars of events at the Rutherford County libraries, local bookstores, and schools to see what other fun literary things are happening near you. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a PSL to order ….
Image courtesy of @agaputrantara
